When you combine superb direction, writing, production, and acting in a special episode of a daytime drama, viewers can see and understand the thought and care that went into it.
This was more than on display during Thursday’s highly-anticipated ‘Alexis-Centric’ episode honoring the 25th anniversary of Alexis’ portrayer, two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Nancy Lee Grahn, on General Hospital.

Courtesy/ABC
In the story, symbolism was apparent and used for dramatic impact and it worked beautifully throughout, and best of all, Nancy received a script worthy of her immeasurable talents, and showed us once again why she remains one of the gold standards of our genre. If you have not seen the episode DO NOT read any further as it contains spoilers.
It begins with an emotional Alexis looking at her mother’s watch which was still frozen from the time of her death. While playing one of her mother’s records very loudly, she recalls Mikkos Cassadine kissing and dancing with her mom as a young Alexis (Natasha) looked on from the staircase. When Sam asks her about it, Alexis shares that she sees the watch as sort of a representation for her own life being frozen over the last three years; which has included Alexis’ battle with booze taking over her life and her being disbarred, when being a lawyer was the way she identified herself and what gave her purpose.
Overwhelmed and anxiety-ridden, Alexis hightails it to Kevin’s office for a therapy session knowing she is going to Pentonville in the morning to serve her sentence. She says she does not know who she is anymore. Then, Kevin asks her how she spent her day thus far. She flashes back to lunch with the good men in her life, Finn, Valentin, Jax and Ned. Valentin tells Alexis she is proud of her for honing up to her mistakes.
Back at the therapy session, Alexis she was an attorney who stood for something and her life has derailed, and that she was a fighter, an idealist, and an advocate. She knows she has to find a purpose in prison to make it through the three-year term and asks Kevin to help her find one.
Kevin wants to go back to when she was a little girl and her memories that are flooding back to her of Mikkos and her mother. Just then, the younger version of Alexis is huddled in the corner of Kevin’s office, an image of her from the past. Alexis tries to come to terms with her father and the choice of dangerous men and relationships that have marred her own happiness … recalling Julian holding a knife to her throat like Mikkos did to her mother. She says he was one of the toxic men in her life, but Kevin reminds her all of the men in her life were not toxic.
Alexis starts with Ned as one who was good for her saying he was always stable, but she ruined that by recently sleeping with him and putting a wedge in his marriage to her long-time friend, Olivia.
We then flashback to earlier in the day, where Alexis ends up in an almost confrontation with Olivia. However, Olivia tells her she misses the Alexis Davis she used to be and to get her back.
Now back with Kevin, a guilt-ridden Alexis relays she feels responsible for Neil’s death. Kevin interjects she is not, nor what happened with Julian. When Kevin attempts to bring up Mikkos again, Alexis rejects it and is angry that he is making her problem about daddy issues; like so many other women. She vehemently shouts that the men in her life do not define who she is.
Then, Alexis flashes back to hurtful memories she has buried of a young Natasha witnessing Mikkos calling her mother a “greedy little bitch”. She recalls it was on Christmas Eve and that Mikkos stopped by to give them gifts. That is when he presented her mother with the watch. However, things took an ugly turn when he tried to leave, and she threatened to tell Helena all about her and Natasha. Next, Mikkos slapped her and that is when the watch shattered. As all this was going down, a young Natasha watched from the stairs and was horrified that she couldn’t stop her father from beating her mother and remembers how helpless she felt.
However, Alexis reveals to Kevin she thought this would be the last of Mikkos coming by, but he returned on New Year’s Eve and her mother took him back into their lives. Alexis is beside herself that she could not protect her mother, but Kevin reassures her to remember she was just a child.

Courtesy/ABC
It is then we come to the crux of the story. Alexis looks over in the corner and sees her younger self crying. She goes to her younger self and tells her nothing that happened was her fault, and that their father was damaged and cruel. She tells the young Natasha this shouldn’t have been her burden to carry alone, and that she deserves to be happy. Then in the moment of strength and coming full circle, Alexis introduces herself to the young Natasha, “I’m Alexis Davis, a fighter, an advocate, and an idealist … and I will take care of everything from her on out.” In that moment, Alexis embraced herself, and forgave herself, so she could move on with her life.
Alexis then flashes back to earlier that night, as the Davis girls gather for a faux graduation ceremony so Alexis could see Molly in her cap and gown and they hug. Back in her session, Kevin remarks that Alexis has repeatedly defined herself as a fighter, an idealist, and an advocate, and reminds her she has three daughters who have those qualities, and that all she needs to be is Alexis Davis.
Then, we get a heart-warming montage of Alexis though the years in honor of Nancy’s 25th anniversary with GH.

Courtesy/ABC
As the episode concludes, it is the next morning, and Alexis enters Pentonville and enters her jail cell. There she meets her fellow inmate, who is studying law books to prep for her upcoming parole hearing. Alexis introduces herself as “Alexis Davis” and as someone who can help her. We then go back to her mother’s watch which now begins ticking at Alexis’ home. The show fades to black.
Kudos to Daytime Emmy winner, Phideaux Xavier for his outstanding direction, head writers: Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor and script writer, Scott Sickles for the thoughtful episode, EP Frank Valentini and his production crew for putting it all together, and the one and only Nancy Lee Grahn for a performance that will be remembered as a classic.
Share your thoughts on today’s on Nancy’s ‘Alexis-Centric’ episode via the comment section below.
Personally I don’t think the Emmy’s was the forum for her speech. I love her and the show but I tune in to the Emmy’s to enjoy seeing the people in the shows I enjoy win an award for their efforts, not political commentary. Was she right in what she said? Maybe, I don’t know I don’t work in that environment, but I’m not interested in listening to political statements, from anyone, when I tune into an entertainment show to be entertained. I myself watch all the shows that were in that category and I think Taraji should have won.… Read more »
I (wouldn’t) want her to do it on the Emmy’s
Well said dh!
I agree
They have been doing it for years that is why viewership is down for the award shows. Now I am going to catch hell on this but here goes it is hard for me to get all worked up for anybody no matter what color you are in Hollywood they live in a fantasy world. so when they come out on stage in their very expensive gowns and tell the average doggie about your trials and tribulations you are going “Huh”? As for NLG she insults everyone all the time I am shocked that one of her buddies did not… Read more »
Well if I can humbly state my opinion; you are right. Everyone has the right to express their opinion; however I can’t help but notice that Nancy had a problem with Viola’s speech but she would have had NO PROBLEM with it if she talked about the struggles of all women. If it is not a platform for a black woman to express her feelings on such a historical momentous occasion, then it is not a platform for what Nancy said either. The issue is that Nancy Lee Grahn failed to acknowledge that this is truly a big accomplishment, not… Read more »
I could not have said it better.. The media was making a big deal about two African American being up for the award. The speech was good, that was her opinion, nobody knows her struggle on the ladder of success. Good win…..
Excellent response Anacarrie!
Even though I groaned a little when Viola was talking, she certainly had a right to say what she wanted, and it was an important moment for her.
Nancy needs to learn to keep her tweeter shut and quit the drunk tweeting.
Viola is being classy and keeping the focus on her achievement.
The media blew this up so HUGE and now she and NLG are permanently associated together which is the last thing NLG intended, IMHO.
NLG just said what she always says: speak up for women. Both want the same thing and love the same art form. Lesson learned. Let’s move on.
Beth, I respect and appreciate your opinion but would ask you to read NLG’s Tweets. They were mean spirited, and appeared to be written by a green eyed monster. They were horrid.
Bro, I was there as it happened. I follow NLG. I thought they were the kind of catty comments you make to your BFF at home while watching and imbibing adult beverages, certainly not something you tweet to 127K followers.
BUT
I do not believe NLG understood the impact or how they would be received and I certainly don’t think she is a racist. Just my opinion. I think NLG has suffered enough. If Viola isn’t mad about it, that is the end of it for me. Thanks for being respectful.
ILL pass on commenting, many overly sensitive people might misconstrue what im saying and take offense…lol
Ha, I agree!
I have to throw in that I think it’s stupid that NLG went upside down & backward to apologize for something she meant to say. Own up to it; don’t apologize 😉
Jim even during the rare times we might disagree, you are never ever offensive. Of course I cannot smell you from here. But seriously, don’t you think that ABC should impose some kind of Twitter guide lines for its actors and writers? When teachers earn their credentials they are often warned to either stay off Twitter and Facebook period or to be very careful about what they post or Tweet because it could come back to bit them. Even before this I found myself disliking the character of Alexis because I had read some really aggressive and annoying Tweets coming… Read more »
I mean, ‘our’ not ‘are’ and forgive the other mistakes and typos please. I am no good typing from my phone.
Two days ago, I realized that there are two people I am grateful not to be: 1. The Volkswagon CEO and 2. Nancy Lee Grahn.
well,
she messed up bringing Harriet Tubman and her words into an acceptance speech..
She should have used her words thanks and honor and not brought heavy into it..
even if she didn’t know it it put discrimination in her acceptance.
Anyways, who cares.. It’s dumb stuff..
now days- bad/nasty twitter’s gives a public figure more air time more acknowledgment and a lot more attention.
It works great for Trump lol
Oh, I was just waiting to see what suoooo would say. You never disappoint.
NLG was the discriminator here.
I agree, Margie. Miss su000 always manages to out do herself. Yes, we as a society need to stop being so irony challenged and thin skinned but we also need to to be able to discriminate between the aforementioned and when someone has really crossed the line. I believe NLG crossed the line with her Tweets again and again……and again. Quite frankly, it came off as an attack. How dare she say that Viola Davis has never known discrimination when she doesn’t know the woman nor her history? She also Tweeted that Viola needed a script writer for her speech… Read more »
Harry, she can fight for rights all she desires. She had many interviews where she could voice have spoken up.
It was not the right time.
Be gracious and say your thank yous and leave the controversy for another time and place..
Maybe if instead of mentioning Harriet Tubman, Viola had mentioned Sojourner Truth, then maybe Nancy Lee Graham would have felt included! Sojourner Truth, was an African-American woman who was born in slavery in the state of New York, and gained her freedom in 1927. On May 29, 1851, Sojourner spoke at a Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. Her speech is commonly known as, “Ain’t I A Woman?” The speech addressed the rights of women in general and not the rights of African-American women. However, when she spoke, Sojourner Truth could not help but speak from her experiences as an African-American.… Read more »
Brilliantly put. It is NOT political or controversial for an actor to speak about the challenges of their career at a ceremony honoring them for their contribution to the field of acting. All these people telling Viola Davis what she should have or should not have said make me shake my head. It was her honor to win, and her right to respond in a personal manner that she saw fit. Her speech was moving and raised such interest because it was personal.
trials and tribulations of the acting craft…
personal trials… are fitting
interviews and auditioning
come hither… damn yourself… belittle… spank… rise… coax… not right
the field is amass… so many energies to contest
yet… a mine field? a smoking gun… an hour glass let… black or white
shades of grey
all in the writing
if Viola Davis word wasn’t captured…
if Nancy Leigh Grahn emoted embroiled…
I can’t get between that
but muster
two humans bespoke
two rights followed
two lines
two paths
intertwined
speak
I don’t know
I love Viola Davis’ MORE
NLG comes in second
the end
cautioning?
absolutely not
my road is not
yours traverses
mix melds turns and does reach
ST gained her freedom in 1827 not 1927 (by then Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation!) Please excuse the typo.
Viola gave an amazing speech, and as a minority in this country where its still hard to be accepted whether your black, Hispanic are another nationality besides being white, I am agree with all she had to say, it was classy and down right the truth.
We all have to fight but the minorities have to fight harder and we should not have too we should be seen as equal.
Absolutely, Adam. And her decision not to comment on NLG’s embarrassing Tweets proves that Viola Davis is a class act.
Nancy repeatedly crossed the line with her tweets, which could also be considered “rants.” She publicly targeted politicians and religious groups. Her fans may consider her clever and witty, but many consider her tweets to be rude or offensive. Even her apology for the racist remarks were inappropriate. Well now she has finally gone too far and is deemed a racist. Words hurt, don’t they Nancy? What is going on over at ABC? Do they have a publicist? You would never see Laura Wright in a verbal mess like this, but Bryan Craig, Nancy Lee, and now Ryan Paevey need… Read more »
NLG overstepped like she always does. She needs to be muzzled. ABC is a disgrace for letting her get away with it. It was Viola’s acceptance speech therefore she can say what she wants whether anyone agrees or not. This isn’t the first time NLG opened her mouth. NLG dudn tg gave to go on twitter and make h er opinion kniwn.
NLG didn’t have to go on twitter and make her opinion known. She didn’t just comment either. She went on and on.
Right, Cathy. I counted 30 offensive tweets before she started to get that she’d angered a LOT of people.
Soap actors aren’t taken seriously enough but this show certainly doesn’t belong on Prime Time Television with those questionable scenes. HBO or Showtime maybe.
I am really surprised by the anger so many viewers have expressed about Ms. Davis’s mention of Harriet Tubman. Why are so many white viewers so offended by this? I am an African American myself, old enough to remember a world where our civil rights were not a given and had to be fought for. I remember as a child in the 1960s that we “Negros” considered successes on the platform of the arts an expression of our integration into and acceptance by white society: Sidney Poitier’s Oscar, Motown acts on Ed Sullivan, Dianne Carroll starring in “Julia.” We cheered… Read more »
Excellent sentiment. Thank you for your well-written thoughts. Much needed perspective.
I can only imagine
that, her Harriet Tubman quote:
as she spoke… about the white woman(s) reaching out
and I just can’t get their
when roles are made available.. on an equal measure… and it’s a just free for all
and it’s no holds barred
then i’ll race
i’ll equip myself ready
i’ll stampede my worth
I’ll reach you
Really appreciated your incites in your comment. As for Nancy who I’ve liked as an actress, I’ll have a hard time not thinking about her badly timed tweets when I see her play Alexis.
Viola’s speech was PERFECT!!! She commented on her experience, and the experience of many black actresses in this country. People who find a problem with her speech really make me laugh. These people also make me question their own morals and values. Viola commented on her experience and how it’s affected her in the industry. These same people who find fault in Viola’s speech by saying it “wasn’t the place” to bring up race issues — well, please tell me, where EXACTLY is the place to bring up racism issues about actors TO ACTORS, DIRECTORS, and PRODUCERS??? Where was she… Read more »
I absolutely love your posts!!!!!! You are spot on! If she had spoken about gay marriage, she would have gotten a teary eyed standing ovation….and possibly a Nobel Prize. It was a personal moment for her to say what her life and career had meant to her up until that point!
Thank you, Dylan! And, yes, if Viola had spoken about gay marriage EVERYONE in attendance would’ve stood up and bowed at her feet! But because she spoke about racism, somehow, that topic was deemed inappropriate! Somehow, there is “a proper time and a proper place” to speak about racism but that’s NEVER the case when it concerns gay rights. Or, as NLG wants you to believe — ALL WOMEN’S RIGHTS! Somehow, speaking about ALL women is okay — just not black women. Really? I amazes me that people believe and actually defend NLG’s crap, but don’t see that this is… Read more »
I think that it’s time to let it go. Nancy Lee Grahn has apologized repeatedly, if you’ve never said anything that unintentionally hurt someone then you’re ahead of the game.
No one should ever stomp on another person’s moment. Period. It’s so completely ungracious and takes away from what they accomplished, I do not believe NLG set out to do that. She shot off some thoughtless tweet, and this has happened before, BTW, and kaBOOM people went cray cray. She apologized and has suffered complete humiliation and personal attacks and ridicule in retaliation. Enough! Give the moment back to Viola Davis and stop associating them together, As to the suggestion that ABC begin coaching their cast members on social media etiquette. Amen to that. The View, OY! Stop offending the… Read more »
“.. Give the moment back to Viola Davis and stop associating them together,”
yeah
two totally separate entities
two viable women
two humane interests
You’re right!! Why is it always GH staff who drink too much and then sound off on social media? That is usually the domain of delusional, self entitled Hollywood people like the Kardashians and Taylor Swift. ABC must not care because controversy brings publicity. And any publicity is good…right?
I think there are three reasons why people can’t let this go.
1. The timing of the tweet. That moment was clearly Viola Davis’. Let her have it. Don’t be an attention whore. It’s like people who get engaged at someone else’s wedding reception.
2. The tweet was not an isolated one, but one in a pattern of thoughtless, offensive tweets.
3. It appears that once again ABC has done nothing to reprimand one of its actors.
I’m glad Viola said something meaningful. Instead of rattling off a bunch of names (agents, publicists, etc.) that would go in one ear and right out the other with me, she gave me a glimpse of who she was as a person and what it took for her to get there.
I don’t think Viola Davis speech was out of turn at the “Emmys,” in fact in was due to Her Historic Win of the Emmy, for “Outstanding Lead Actresses in a Drama Series, “The FIRST Black Woman or Woman of Color to do so.” that lead to Her Speech. I think it was a classy & well thought out speech, that was based on the fact of Lack of Roles, especially Lead Roles on Tv (also Movies & other Media) for Women of Color. It wasn’t like she made a out-of-left-field, nothing at all to do with the Emmys Political… Read more »
i’m leaving this be : but not duly noted
“… For NLG, to say that Viola, never experienced discrimination & was part of an elite group ”
wow… earned your stripes
learned from you past
risen from the lesson learned
geezus… cliches abound
courage
*but not
should marquee : duly noted
I want to scream everytime someone says let it go about Ms. Grahn’s twitter rant. Even though she apologized and deleted her flurry of hateful tweets, she went on and on into the early morning even after people let her know how vicious her comments were. She is not a young person and I would think she would have some decorum. Ms. Davis’ speech was for every person of color who finds it hard to find parts in Primetime tv. We will move on to the next thing, but I hope next time, Ms. Grahn will think before she tweets.
And another thing that bothers me about Nancy Lee Grahn’s comments — she acts like there are Black women ALL OVER GH!!! Like there are LITERALLY more black women in lead roles on GH than there are white women. Like NLG had to “fight” for the role of Alexis Davis because they were only auditioning black actresses at the time. Like NLG had auditioned for MILLIONS of roles, but they ALL went to black actresses instead! What in the world is this chick talking about??? Seriously, Viola has NEVER been discriminated against, but poor, sad, woe-is-me NLG has??? Gimme a… Read more »
I readily reply
original post… ie: NLG : 203 posts
this thread : 32 and count
you know… Viola Davis is aware of NLG emote
Women.. will traverse and meet eye to eye and battle…
I laud that…
Men fight to the dogged dearth…
just saying…
eye to eye mix
relating
Lol. You’re funny!! And blunt! Find my post below, and see if you like it.
Thanks, Dylan! Yeah, I just don’t see any reason to beat around the bush. We all know what this issue is about — whether people want to admit it or not. I say all of the time, when it comes to gay issues vs. race issues — people are ALL for gay rights/gay issues being discussed and dealt with. But somehow, when it comes to race — that issue is just “too touchy,” “inappropriate,” or “people are just so sensitive.” No one tells gay people that they are “too sensitive” about LGBT issues! So, why is it that black people… Read more »
@Trophy Lady. You’re doing the same thing you accuse Nancy of. You ASSUME because she is white she’s never faced discrimination, which comes in all forms including religious, age, beauty, weight, health. No one here knows how many roles Nancy was rejected for…was she not young enough, thin enough, blonde enough…black enough?
She spoke out of turn by assuming…but she’s for ALL women in an industry that she apparently feels are too harshly judged. That includes middle aged women of all ethnic backgrounds who have historically been cast aside.
Rebecca, I’m really not doing the same thing as NLG. NLG said that Viola had never been discriminated against — even though Viola has said on MANY occasions that she has been. What I said was that NLG wants us to feel sorry for her because she says she has been discriminated against because she is a woman. My point is that, sure, NLG has probably been discriminated against because she is a woman over 40. BUT Viola has been discriminated against because she is a woman over 40 AND A BLACK WOMAN OVER 40! Not only was she discriminated… Read more »
Nancy’s comments were completely inappropriate. Bottom line, this moment was not a only a big win for Viola Davis, it was a big moment for AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESSES. To say it should be about all women who don’t get recognized or acknowledged makes NO SENSE because white actresses have been acknowledged for their craft and have been awarded this honor for SEVERAL DECADES! This moment WAS AND STILL IS HUGE and for her to try to take away from it and attempt to negate this historical moment is very disappointing. One can argue that she is entitled to her feelings… Read more »
It’s clear that Davis was mum on NLG because she is extremely perturbed with NLG and didn’t want to make matters worse. I will ignore the larger, more important, issue of race relations and dive right into social media. Social media will lead to the downfall of society. Look at the tremendous backlash to NLG for her tweets. In a sense, I suppose that our interactions here at the Fairman site are a part of social media. Yet I have seen much divisiveness and harmful effects coming from FaceBook, Twitter, and their ilk. I was briefly on FB but left… Read more »
James…I agree with your the “open door” comment about social media. And I really don’t know why someone wants to share all of the things they put out there. But what has really amazed me about the social media phenomenon is it has uncovered some very negative, disturbing thoughts and trolls in society that we wouldn’t have known existed before. In a perverse way it’s been a wakeup call that not all is not well in a larger population than we might have guessed. Just wish we knew what to do about it.
Rose, thanks a million for your thoughtful reply! You bring up a valid and interesting point regarding the negativity that has been exposed through social media. In its extreme, terrorists have spread propaganda and enlisted sympathizers and activists (the worst kind of trolls), even on the US shores.
I posted a long post about this under the original column. Simply put…it was Ms. Davis’ speech. (Ironic that Nancy Lee Grahn plays Alexis DAVIS.) If Nancy had to post about the speech , it should have said CONGRATULATIONS ON A WELL DESERVED WIN. Nothing more. Mixing tequila and twitter is NEVER A good idea! I would like to coin a new phrase for celebrities who imbibe and then go to Social Media. TWIQUILA.
I agree! It seems that NLG never learned the old adage, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” If she’d done just that, she wouldn’t have to defend herself. But since she wants to be so mouthy — well, there are consequences. Now people know exactly want kind of a “woman” she really is.
“Twiquila” … love it! Ms. Grahn is not the only celebrity who needs to lay off the Twiquila!
Nancy Lee Grahn’s tweets were so uncalled for really? Now she had to go back and apologize, which was good, but still, never been fan of her’s and never will. GH good luck with this actress on your show, well there’s hardly any minorities on GH anyway, so she want have to worry so much!
Anacarrie, Tristan, and Trophy Lady were excellent with their comments ; I can’t add anything to what they stated. Bravo ! Tremendous! Superb!
Thank you so much, Belle!
Thank you, Belle! 🙂
Food for thought…Everyone has their own way of accepting an award. Viola had hers, and I can’t say I blame her…certainly not on racial grounds. It was 75 years ago Hattie McDaniel graciously accepted her Academy award as best supporting actress in Gone With The Wind. She was incidentally the first negro, as she was called then, to receive one, in a segregated venue where her director had to get special permission for her to be admitted and given a table. Since then there has been Sidney Poitier, Denzel, Whoopi, Harry Belafonte, and others that have won awards, and continued… Read more »
NLG ‘s comments , Tweets, should have not her send button, if she had a 5-10 second delay, we would never know her thoughts about race, discrimination, women, equality……it would have been some other actor, actress, who would have taken her place in voicing the same or similar remarks. This usually occurs when there is an award show, and a “milestone” is or may occur. Hollywood, the Television Academy, has for a very’ very long time, failed to recognize gifted talented actors, because they put them in a box with respect to their gender, race, and the few people in… Read more »
I want to address what the article above said that Nancy Lee Graham asserted that Viola Davis was a part of an elite group of actresses that had never been held back by discrimination. In 2014, Oprah Winfrey had a special on OWN where African-American actresses were invited to come and discuss their issues and experiences trying to get work in Hollywood. They also talked about how those experiences had affected them personally. The participating actresses included Viola and others who Nancy would probably consider elite. After reading many of the comments on this page and comments on the initial… Read more »
I still think the reaction to Nancy is ridiculous..However, I don’t think she helped get her point across by stating her opinion that Viola wasn’t discriminated against. Perhaps she was at some point before she got on Times 100 most influential list or before her numerous awards including the Academy Awards, Tony Awards, Emmy….among others.
Still, I’d like to know how many expert witnesses here gave her a breathalyzer test whilst condemning Nancy and calling her a racist.
Before taking to twitter perhaps Nancy should have asked herself besides Debbi Morgan, how many African-American actresses have had the privilege to work in daytime for 30+ years? It seems Nancy has forgotten her own “elite class” including the likes of Deidre Hall, Susan Lucci, Katherine Kelly Lang, Kristian Alfonso, Melody Scott (I could go on and on and on…) It should take nothing more than a look at her daytime community to understand the need for diversity. If Nancy is such a champion for human rights and women’s rights she should understand and celebrate Viola’s much deserved accomplishment.
Darrick — isn’t that just plain common sense on NLG’s part? She’s done all this talking about Viola being “elite” and “not being discriminated against,” yet NLG has had a prominent place in daytime for more than 20 years! So, what is she talking about? NLG may not be the “hot, young seductress” any longer, but she is still a LEAD on GH! Where are her Black actress counterparts? They are certainly NO WHERE TO BE FOUND on GH — or on ANY daytime soap! She really doesn’t have a leg to stand on — at all. And, furthermore, if… Read more »
Once again, Trophy Lady, you’re assuming that NLG hasn’t asked for more racial equality on GH. Maybe she has, maybe she hasn’t. Don’t know; neither do you. What I do know is she has felt that prior to Ron coming over to GH, she and Jane Elliot had discussed how they, felt, as women over a certain age…that they were invisible. You know what I’d like to see? I’d like to see characters and families on TV…including soaps… as well as film…Jewish. How many non Jewish actors, including non Jewish black actors…are demanding that? And if this were a primarily… Read more »
Rebecca, why should Viola be “responsible” for speaking up for ALL ethnic groups? Why should she speak up for Jewish actors? She’s had a hard enough time as a black actress, now she’s responsible for all of the other ethnic groups as well? I’m not saying that she shouldn’t — if that’s what she wanted to do with HER TIME at the Emmys. But, the idea that because she won, she needs to represent any other group other than what she wants to, is simply ridiculous. You’re basically saying the same thing that NLG said — NLG wanted her to… Read more »
Trophy Lady…your reply to me was EXACTLY the sentiment I knew it would be. So…here we go… I never said VIOLA DAVIS should have addressed the fact that there is very little portrayal of Jewish life in the media. I simply stated there isn’t. That’s a fact. There’s not. But that’s something I’d like to hear addressed. I said on several other posts I would have also welcomed a speech about the lack of diversity portrayed in the media regarding other people in society…the overweight, the disabled, actors such as Peter Dinklage, the dwarf who won Best Supporting Actor for… Read more »
Rebecca — a few things: 1. I am glad we are having this discussion because I think far too many people shy away from racial issues. Why not discuss and voice your thoughts?! 2. As my response was what you thought it would be, in the same vain, your response is very much what I thought it would be, as well. So, let’s discuss… You mentioned that you don’t want to hear any more talk about the “lack” of Blacks on TV because there are such shows as Empire, Extant, Black-ish, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, etc. You… Read more »
Trophy Lady… I, too, welcome a respectful dialogue. Unfortunately, if one was to expressive what they truly think on these complicated issues, civil could turn hostile on a dime. While I understand all you’ve expressesd and I understand the emotion and passion you feel…I don’t agree with Viola’S speech. I’ll tell you why. I Don’t agree that doors aren’t open to black actors. I DO AGREE that there is still a disparity between the racial spectrum in terms of how many people we currently have starring on TV and film. The difference is, the message was already received. As long… Read more »
N LG made a mistake, she sounded jealous to me. I don’t think she meant to sound racist. I’m an African American I’ll give her a pass, people say stupid things sometimes.
Twitter and Facebook are pernicious awful platforms. That said, I applaud Nancy, and no, speaking the truth as one sees it is not racist. Like I said in another post about something different, this country now is about groups, which is the total antithesis of our philosophy as different people who choose a common set of values, liberty, individualism and hard work, not ethnicity or nationality. Being an actress in Hollywood and winning an Emmy are luxuries and privileges of an elitist few, many who aren’t any more talented than anyone else. People need to grow up and stop looking… Read more »